American Idol Season 9 Upset Win?

This just in..... Lee DeWyze is the new American Idol pulling an upset win over frontliner, Crystal Bowersox, in this season's American Idol.

Unlike in previous seasons, I was not as engaged in watching AI9 this year. I even took the morning off last year to watch the grand finals of AI8.  Blame it on my punishing schedule which seems to take the lights out of me when I'm home from work. I hardly have time watching TV. In the past, AI viewing was the girls and my bonding time as we all lie on my bed in my room intently listening and then being judges of the contestants at the same time. We could be Simon, Randy, or Paula.

This is also the season that Paula was unceremoniously cut from the judges panel. Ellen Degeneres replaced the cocky judge. This would also be Simon's last season in Idol. But did the judges' opinion matter this season?

Earlier in the competition, Simon, the most irreverent but believable Idol judge, said that a girl could take home the crown this year. In fact when the final 12 made it to the competition, audience were led to believe that this batch of female contestants were better than the men. Yet the girls except for Crystal succumbed to early elimination.  The boys still ruled through out the competition.  Later, Lee seemed to be the favored contestant along with the yummy Casey James.

For the last three years including this season, a guy emerged as the American idol, David Cook, Kris Allen, and now, Lee DeWyze. Personally, I think that the fans are leaning towards a certain type of idol given the results of the past three seasons.  All winners are from some obscure towns, with humble beginnings and have a story to tell.  Their music can be considered as mainstream.  To borrow from AI judges, these guys can make a song their very own.  Fans also feel for the underdogs which might explain the wins of these guys.  Another hunch is the big chunk of the fans base is female which might explain why the boys have an edge.  Even runners ups like David Archuleta, Danny Gokey, Casey James and probably the infamous Sanjaya Malakar benefited from the female vote.  And this should come as no surprise.... Women are always home and the boys are out there.......

Do you feel that this year's American Idol deserves the win?

Related posts:
American Idol
Lee Dewyze
Crystal Bowersox

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May 17 - 23, 2010: Take Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers

By this time, most of the elected officials have been proclaimed. Many of the losing candidates are noisily proclaiming they were cheated. By this time too, my election fever is on the wane. I am just interested in the outcome of the vice presidential race. And little by little, my hope is being dashed......

I took a leave in the middle of the week to take care of my car registration........ one of those things I dread doing based on previous experience with the LTO. For the past years, my car registration was taken cared of by a neighbor working for an insurance company inside the LTO. I just give him the money and with a little extra payment, I am spared from the hassles of going to that government agency.  Last time I went there was during my birthday last year when I renewed my driver's license and ED got hers. It took us the whole day.

But I am a month delayed in registering my vehicle and it's such a hassle driving an unregistered vehicle. Everytime I drive my car, I could feel my heart skip a beat when I see a traffic officer. And I couldn't bring it too far. And I have an affair to attend in the weekend. The last reason compelled me to finally register my vehicle.

My neighbor told me that the new process requires that the vehicle be brought for emission testing with a picture taken..... arrgh. I told her I'll have that emission testing in the weekend but would still have our neighbor register the car. But the emission testing center was closed in the weekend. Hence, I would be forced to bring my car to the ETC on a workday.

I was expecting the worst that morning I decided to go to LTO and got the shock of my life....... Here's my story....

Upon entering the LTO compound, a guard took my ID and gave me a number like they do in villages or subdivisions.  That's new but I complied sensing that it is probably a new rule.  I asked the guard for direction. A few meters away were a group of men in orange shirts. When I passed the tent they were housed in, one directed me where to go and followed me. He assisted me in the ETC. When I got the results a few minutes after, he took me to the area where the insurance people and the cashier are housed. After that, he told me to bring my documents to the evaluation and processing units. Surprise of all surprises, there were hardly any people. After a few minutes, I was paying my dues. The only bummer was I had to shell out an extra thousand bucks as penalty for late registration. I vow that this will never happen again. The whole process was over in less than an hour.

I was so pleased I told myself I'd buy pastries for the kids after I finished the registration process. Another bummer would happen which will be revealed later.......

I went home and had lunch with the kids.  I was restless so I asked the kids if they want to go out.  ED and MS would not want to go out.  These two are certified veggers.........MD, ,my constant companion, and I set out.......

I decided to do some make over with MD... eyebrows, hot oil... and buy some stuff afterwards.  We were having our eyebrows trimmed when I realized I forgot my ID at LTO.... sucks. I was planning on going some other places but I have to adjust as I would have to go back for my ID card...geeesh. After our hair waxing treatment, MD and I went back to the LTO compound and got my ID.  Funny but the guard asked how I was related to the ID holder.  I said that's me.  He laughed saying I look better in person.  My pic in that ID was taken when I had a really bad hair day.  Maybe, I should have just left that ID card with them.......  With some time shaved off my desired sked, we went to the mall to buy stuff and just went home.

By the end of the week, I remembered my promise to a former high school that my friends and I will meet up with him before he goes back to Canada.  I stalled on this for the past weeks and I realized that my teacher was going back soon.  I immediately made arrangements with some friends and our teacher.  We fixed our date the very first day the following week as our teacher is leaving by the end of that week.

The workweek came and ended..... Like clockwork, things happened as they should. I came home on Friday, tired, sleepy, but hopeful about my weekend. I am not entirely savoring doing the chores but look forward to extended vegging out....

My weekend wasn't planned out concretely but I have some ideas how it would go. The dogs have to get their shots. Recently, one of my dogs bit a our water delivery boy. The importance of the dogs having updated vaccines couldn't be more appreciated. I had a bit of an explaining to do with the employer of the water delivery boy. However, after getting my dog's record, I didn't see the water delivery boy again. Another helper was assigned to deliver water for us. The employer nor the boy didn't asked me for anything. I am not exactly happy because I know we were wrong. I could have spent for his medical expense if needed even if I am short on funds lately.  I don't know why the boy didn't go to the doctor to have the dog bite.  I wasn't too worried about rabies because the dog that bit him has anti-rabies shot.  Then again, his wounds should have been treated.  I don't understand why he seemed to avoid going to the house when I am there and would show up when I am gone.  I guess nothing bad happened to him..  the dog is fine too.

An event, the baptismal of the son of my friend and officemate, was reset for next week. I thought that my scheduled talk with a reader of this blog who was interested in my experience in handling the difficulties of having a child with ADHD could happen this weekend instead of next as we originally planned. He and his wife were cool with that and we set Sunday afternoon as our meeting date.

There was also the planned dental appointment with hubby dentist-friend. I am trying to fit all of these events this weekend.

I called the vet on Saturday after the dogs had their bath and grooming time but they couldn't be accommodated that day. So we set it morning of the following day. I also sent a message to the parent of the ADHD child I am meeting and he and his wife agreed to set the meeting on Sunday. We still don't know yet if the dentist appointment will push through the following day. which means that we might have a cramped day on Sunday.....

The kids and I went to our usual anticipated mass on Saturday. Hubby went to his birds meeting. After the mass, there was an announcement on H1N1 vaccine to be administered sometime in June. MS and I registered for the vaccination. The girls said they will avail of free vaccines at their university. Going out of the parish office, I saw my 'suking' banana vendor waiting for someone at the parking area. His one and a half year old son just died. The boy is their only child. I asked him if the child has been buried yet. He said he was waiting for a priest and they might have the burial the following day. He was sullen and sad as I asked him about the circumstances of the death. He said a doctor told them of a disease which he couldn't make out. He and his wife found the child already cold one morning. He said he's worried about his wife and is bent on bringing her to a doctor after the burial. I felt his pain and I couldn't just go. My kids who were walking ahead of me, went ahead and I am certain are getting impatient. But I have to offer an ear and some support. My kids would emerged with those faces of impatience as I was searching for my wallet to give him some help. We parted ways after I told him to stay strong but to cry if he needs to and to look after his wife. I had to explain to the kids I have to stop to give comfort. Their impatience was gone and we would discuss the child's death in the car. I could not remember exactly what the vendor told me about the cause of death as I was telling the story to the kids. ED, whom we see as the closest thing we have to a medical mind, would have her theories.

On Sunday, hubby told us that our dental appointment will push through as we were having breakfast. I have things planned out actually. I waited for the vet while I was on the lappy manning our music site. Soon, the vet and her assistant would arrive. The appointment lasted several hours. It was lunchtime when they finished with all the dogs.

After lunch, we set out to go to the dentist. The plan was to pass by the pet store to buy dog food; have our dental appointment; and go to the grocery. I timed my meeting with my readers around the time we were doing the grocery. I was texting the dad of the child on the meet up. Just as arranged, he would text me while we were in the supermarket. I brought MD along. Finally, I met them in a resto. They offered to buy us food but MD and I couldn't take anything for the next hour or so or our dental ordeal would have been a waste. Our sharing was fruitful to say the least. Before we met, I told them I am no therapist and I hope they won't expect professional advise. It would simply be sharing of experiences having passed through the ordeals they might be experiencing now.  We still do occassionaly........   It was just that... an open and spontaneous exchange of experiences. There were points I could feel tears welling in my eyes. I told them that everything I written on my blog is what exactly we experienced as a family and I as a mom. The mom of the child with ADHD told me she actually felt what I went through and could relate well to my experience. She and her husband were just glad to talk to someone who has a first hand experience in this misunderstood condition of a lot of boys and girls out there. The time passed so quickly and soon hubby's text message to MD telling us that they were done shopping came. The mom and I kissed and I shook hands with the dad. We exchanged home phones and they told me that they would give a call again. I said anytime. I felt good and light after that meet up.

Considering I didn't plan out this weekend, it turned well..... more than what I expected. It was worth dropping the usual things I do and taking time out to ease someone else's pain.

This week I felt I also restored some order into my life....

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May 10 - 16, 2010: We Made History

For Filipinos, this is one important week as we elect our new President. In fact, it was to be the first order of the day for us and most Filipino voters as we will see later on the very first day of the week.  There is excitement in the air as we all want to see a change.  This is going to be our first ever automated election too.  We don't know what to expect but we are all hopeful that we will elect our new President peacefully.

I was closed to shock seeing ED up so early in the morning on a holiday. But there she was in the study room with her dad and MS, talking ordinary stuff.  I wasn't quite ready to start my day as I brought a laptop downstairs so I could do some stuff on the net and monitor things at home at the same time.  It seems that the helpers are having a heyday whenever I linger in my room tinkering on the laptop and go down late.  I have to do something about it.

I was just starting things ........ writing on my blog, posting songs on our music site, harvesting on my farm...... when ED and hubby went upstairs.  I was not involved in their discussion like I am non-existent.  I was looking out for them all the time sensing that they were getting ready to go to the polling center ......and the network won't cooperate.  It would quit on me or would be too slow.  I was able to write a prayer for a peaceful election on my blog and post a song but was not able to share the prayer I wrote in our music site.  I told a co-admin that I have to go out for a while to vote.  ED and hubby were ready after sometime.  I asked for them to wait for me .  I would be getting a dressing down for not getting ready soon enough.  But they waited for me.......

We were in our polling center in no time.  It was hot and hubby has no umbrella in his car.... just great.  As we neared the gate, there was a long queue already..... chaotic is the best way to describe what was instore for us.  We have to have a game plan.  We took turns standing on the line as we left hubby to get our polling booth details in the designated area.  As soon as he got it, we found out that we and ED have separate polling booths..... problem compounded.  I didn't want to leave ED because it's her first time to vote and with the thick crowd, something wrong could happen.  Hubby prevailed upon me.  So we went inside leaving ED in her line.  Inside, more chaos await us.  There were lines everywhere and people did not know where it led to.  We looked for our precinct number and easily found it.  But the route was teeming with warm, confused, and mad bodies.  We asked where the line led to and the people lined up only knew that it was going inside.  After that throngs who lined up, people converged by the room's entrance.  There was no crowd control.  I asked a PPCRV volunteer and she told me that there is no line.  I was getting dizzy. Hubby and  I stayed at the back.  Later, a guy joined me in suggesting that the volunteers should simply collect our precintct slips and call out names.  The lady volunteer proceeded to tell their leader.  He took some slips but left out some.  We insisted that he get all.  Still, the crowd remained at the door blocking the passageway to the room.  I told another PPCRV volunteer to exercise her power and get those people off the passage way.  Soon, the PPCRV leader were calling out names..   We clapped in agreement.  We were done ahead of the others who were still crowding the door.  It took a little more than an hour.

We rushed to where ED was and their line hardly moved.  She was inside the polling center but the line stopped moving.  I stayed with her as hubby roamed around.  It was taking so long and the snoop in me couldn't resist doing something about it.  First, I probed what could be the reasons after I heard one voter said that there were problemes with the pcos machines.   I verified with the volunteer controlling the entrance of people.  He said he doesn't know.  I told him he should know.  If he would allow me, I would find out.  He allowed me and I got in.  I went to ED's classroom.  The room was almost empty, maybe about 3 voters in there.  The queue wasn't too long.  I asked the volunteer assigned there why the line wasn't moving and if the pcos machine is working.  She said the machine is working fine.  I told her that there too few people voting inside the room adding that in our classroom, there were about 15 voters voting at the same time.  So it was fast.  With this information, I went back to ED.  I told the volunteer controlling the entrance that there was nothing wrong with the machine.

While waiting, another volunteer would try to explain the delay telling us that the line to where ED would be voting is circuitous.  I contested the statement as an untruth.  I told him I was there and there was a line but not long.  I told him they were allowing only 3 persons to vote which is the reason for the delay.  He wanted to insist but I told him we could go together and he could see for himself.  He vanished in thin air.  Soon, they would be calling voters for ED's room to get inside.  My snooping and bitching worked once again.  ED got in and queued in her room.  I waited at an area where I could see her.  Hubby would join us in a while.

The other voters still lined up in the queue ED left hasn't moved a bit.  I think the pcos machine was malfunctioning in their room.  The voters were restless.  I wanted to meddle because I know that voters should be allowed to vote even if the pcos machines are not working because there is an allowance for manual counting.  But I meddled far too much and I am tired. I was just happy that ED was in and is assured of exercising her right to vote.   We waited for probably less than an hour.  While waiting, we would be hearing complaints from voters who just casted their votes after four hours of waiting.  So we must be luckier.  ED was in her polling booth and we were about two hours there since we arrived.  Soon, ED would emerged.  We were done in exactly 2 hours and  45 minutes.  Thanks to my bitching.......

In the aftermath of the election, I would learn that the average waiting time was four hours.  There was an account I overheard of waiting for 7 hours.  Some were so distressed, they just went home and not voted..  A friend told me that she andd her dad, a senior citizen, had to get home as her dad couldn't bear the heat and the thick crowd.  There might be a number of voters disenfranchised due to all the confusion and chaos in the precincts.  With the automated election, Comelec decided to increase the number of voters per precinct to 1,000 from about 400 in previous elections.  We surely felt the difference.  Election used to be a breeze.

With all the attendant problems associated with the maiden implementation of the first automated election, it was a successful election nonetheless.  It was not perfect and there is still much room for improvement but we were gratified about converting from the antiquated manual voting to automated voting.  While we blabber about waiting, it was all worth it because the election results were delivered so fast.  By evening, result would come in trickles......

The results, though, is another matter.  By midweek, a trend would be established.   Noynoy Aquino looks headed for an expected win.  The surprise is Erap still commands a following as he tightly held on to the second spot.  I am just glad he is a far second.  The vice presidency is hotly contested between Binay and Roxas.  I am hoping that Roxas can still make it although he trails Binay in both counting by Comelec and PPCRV.  It looks like a goon is going to join a simpleton president.  Are we in trouble?

From the looks of it., we have not learned as we kept most of the NPA (non-performing assets) in there.  Bong Revilla, the leading senatorial candidate, has the gall to tell us that the electorate probably saw his performance (sic) in the senate..... huh.... what the heck is this bum talking about!!!  All he did was sit himself pretty all the time without saying or doing anything.  Well, if he counts his privilege speech protecting a fellow actor from public humiliation as a result of her tryst with another entertainer as his biggest accomplishment, we all know what we can expect in the current Senate.  Another thug from the same industry shares top spot with Mr. (Non) Performer. An aging clown from a familiar trio is also assured of being a lawmaker.  A brainless reelectionist actor is yet to be proclaimed but will complete the ensemble of the eerily silent headless and clueless bunch.

The House of Representatives will be a spectacle when it convenes in July with the stellar appearances of stars.  The Champ will be there to dazzle his fellow Representatives with his jabs and hooks.  The beautiful martyr wife of reelectionist Mr. (non) Performer will also be there.... maybe sitting pretty too......Another beautiful wife of a famous actor made up for her husband's lost when he attempted to try politics some years back.  A lesser known actor who made a successful bid as a local official in a southern Luzon province likewise made it.

Several celebrities also made it to various local positions.  The most prominent would probably be the Star for All Seasons who won her reelection bid in her second-time senator husband's hometown.

I am not judging these people because they are celebrities but on the basis of their capabilities.  How can some of them aspire for these positions when they have no inkling whatsoever what they are supposed to think, do, and accomplish.  A string of them already showed their true colors in their previous positions.  What more proof is needed to show us that these people can do absolutely nothing!  They want to serve the people.... Geesh, get real!!!!!

Until the end of the week, reactions on the election were still the burning issues of the day.  By weekend, we are clear about who made it to this election except for the vice presidency.    Like most Pinoys, I have accepted the fate of my country with the results of the election as clear as the blue summer skies but remain optimistic about restoring sanity in the government if my favored candidate steals the thunder from the leading candidate in the hotly contested vice presidential race.....

I managed to do my chores while manning our music site in the weekend and even sneaked a snack with MD and my friend V....... in one of my errands.  I also managed to squeeze in a long overdue saloon trip.  On Sunday evening, I dreaded the thought of another workweek coming shortly.

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May 3 – 9, 2010: A Lesson or Two

What do you know..... We would be celebrating our monthsary in the music site we put up.  Quite a feat considering what we went through the last 30 days.  Meant just to be a site where we, the boisterous friends, can post songs and freely express ourselves, the site now boasts of 380 subscribers in just a month's time. A far cry from the original site we used to hang out with but far from our expectations too.  Unlike in the old site, the interaction of tuners in the site is spontaneous and natural.  There is no need to be fancy as one can be his or herself.  It's easy to become friends.  That is why the hours where we usually converged have to be manned because I think that the friends who go to the site on those times expect some kind of an interaction.  In fact, we have become friends with a number of them, formerly just Facebook acquaintances.  Some of the subscribers are our real life friends, many of whom are contented being lurkers and stalkers.  The new friends are the ones we interact with often.

I was getting into the hang of things at the site. We have settled into a relatively comfortable pace especially with two additional administrators of the site. We agreed on a sked that would fit everyone’s sked. But the worst has to happen to me this week.  We would have no internet connection in the office……. Oh no!!!!!!  While we have cope up with my occasional internet disruptions, to be totally disconnected is something I did not expect.  As the week progresses, I would learn that we have been removed from our connection from the building server.  That means we will be connected to the old server which blocks a number of applications including Facebook and other favorite applications...... sigh.  I was listless the whole week but what can I do but accept my fate.  That means we have to readjust the schedule again to reflect this latest development.

Being disconnected, however, enabled me to keep up with many of my pending tasks.  I updated my blog and even came up with a relevant election post.  I cleaned up my folders.  Most importantly, I was able to do school stuff which I have been putting off.  We just had our midterm examinations and it is the season for evaluation...... a season of grief for the students.  They are particularly worried about how they fared in my class because I am handling subjects that make their noses bleed according to the description of one student.  It's a combination of mathematics and quantitative analysis.

But I must do what I should do.  I did the grades as I would usually do..... grade all evaluation tools, plug these grades into my special excel file, work out the formula, and presto, I have my computations.  As usual, I would not finalize it until I sleep over it.  I was done by Thursday but since I would submit it on Friday when I have my class, I held printing the final grading sheet until before I was about to go to school.  It's not a pretty sight as two students failed in two subjects.  And I have to fail them for being remiss….. In the old schools where I taught, I have quite a reputation.  I once failed probably half of the class in one subject.  I have failed a number of graduating students which stalled the realization of their dreams.  I've managed to come alive out of a classroom after being stalked and threatened by a student I failed.  I withstood crying sessions from a student who wanted me to change her grade so she could graduate.  I don't want failing students but I think that failures have been put in there for the lessons it bring.  I got a very good explanation in the briefing that ED and I attended when she entered college a few years back.  A parent asked during the open forum why failures can still happen to students belonging to the cream of the crop.  The facilitator said that it is better that the students who would be doctors know how to deal with failures and frustrations now than when they are already practicing their profession. He added that not all patients will come out alive after getting treatment from doctors.  A doctor cannot come out wailing or emotional after a patient dies on his or her watch.  I think it makes sense.  Maybe, I should add that failures can teach us humility and persistence.  And it doesn't really matter if one fails for as long as he can rise above it........ cliche-ish but still so true any time of the day .............

After accomplishing everything I needed to do this week,  I am looking forward to another long weekend with the glee of a child............

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Ninoy's Letter to Noynoy

Let me share this touching and beautiful, prophetic letter written by my modern-day hero, Ninoy Aquino, to his son, Noynoy, 36 years ago, while he was in his prison cell in Fort Bonifacio.  This letter was released by the Aquino family on September 9, 2009 when Noynoy proclaimed his candidacy to run as President of the Philippines.

Noynoy's decision to accept the call for him to run for President is his reply to his father's letter, 36 years after..... 

I quote the following excerpts from Ninoy's letter as this is how he would like his son, Noynoy, to carry on his fight for democracy........

The only valuable asset I can bequeath to you now is the name you carry. I have tried my best during my years of public service to keep that name untarnished and respected, unmarked by sorry compromises for expediency. I now pass it on to you, as good, I pray, as when my father, your grandfather passed it on to me.

In the coming years, I hope you will study very hard so that you will have a solid foundation on which to build your future. I may no longer be around to give you my fatherly advice. I have asked many of your uncles to help you along should the need arise and I pray you will have the humility to drink from their fountain of experiences.

Look after your two younger sisters with understanding and affection. Viel and Krissy will need your umbrella of protection for a long time. Krissy is still very young and fate has been most unkind to both of us. Our parting came too soon. Please make up for me. Take care of her as I would have taken care of her with patience and warm affection. Finally, stand by your mother as she stood beside me through the buffeting winds of crisis and uncertainties firm and resolute and uncowed. I pray to God, you inherit her indomitable spirit and her rare brand of silent courage.

I had hopes of introducing you to my friends, showing you the world and guide you through the maze of survival. I am afraid; you will now have to go it alone without your guide.

The only advice I can give you: Live with honor and follow your conscience. There is no greater nation on earth than our Motherland. No greater people than our own. Serve them with all your heart, with all your might and with all your strength. Son, the ball is now in your hands.

As I write this, many of the candidates I voted for are losing.  Gibo managed a sorely fourth place finish.  Mar is in a neck to neck battle with Binay (I am keeping my fingers crossed on this one and I will hold it as long as it takes).  With the exception of one or two, most of the senators I voted for are out of the magic 12 or would be in a tight squeeze to make it.  My congressman as well as most of the local I voted for, lost.  This early I see the same clueless clowns with their new cohorts filling up our august chambers..... new faces, same old routines.... so help us God.


Still, I am willing to give hope a chance......


I was earlier telling myself that even if I have already accepted the results of this last election, I won't expect much from Noynoy given his experience.  However, after pondering over it for sometime, I think that it is not enough to simply accept things as we see fit.  We should expect to get good, honest governance from our new leaders.  


I'd like to see Ninoy fulfill his dream even in his grave.  I do not like his sacrifices and heroism to simply go to waste.  Their family have sacrificed so much for our country.  It is such as small thing to ask that we wish Noynoy well in his new role and accord him the dignity and respect that he deserves.  Let us pray for Noynoy that he will have the courage and will to make the change that he promised us and be the man that his proud father had hope his only son will be, 36 years ago.   I would encourage each and everyone of us to pray for our newly and duly elected 15th President that he will be able to carry on the responsibilities bestowed upon him honestly, sincerely, justly, firmly.  Let us pray that God will give him the strength and a good health to do all these things.  Let us pray that people around him will resist the temptation to influence and cloud his decisions.  


Let's forget the wounds inflicted on us by the last election and respect the will of the electorate.  Let us remain vigilant, however, on attempts to topple our fragile democracy.  Let's move on and be the agent of change in the new order.    

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April 26 – May 2, 2010: Back to Normal?

On Monday, I was walking the old familiar road on my way to work.  The heat does not really do good to my sagging energy at the start of the workweek.  But there was much to look forward to today......  Kakay's return as she promised.  Even if we were able to cope up during the three weeks that she was away, we are eagerly awaiting her return..  My daughters were probably thankful for the last minute replacements as they would have been the substitutes for Kakay.  The thought is somehow scary as our home would be a total mess by this time if that happened.

I was back late in the evening because I have classes and everything was quiet.  I asked ED who was on her laptop if Kakay arrived.  She said yes but they have not seen her.  ED, MD, and MS went swimming again in the afternoon.  And it's likely that Kakay rested once she's home.  I would see her the following morning back to her old routine.  She gladly served my and hubby's coffee during breakfast.  She looked darker but refreshed.  With that, it's back to normal for my household.  There were switching of responsibilities and maybe some miscues.  One of the changes that immediately followed Kakay's return was Mandy's lingering in their room longer than usual in the morning.  Once again, I had to call attention.  The lethargy doesn't only affect Mandy but it seems everyone else is slacking off.  It usually happens after every vacation.  Probably, the long break could be affecting energy levels and there's also what I would call the 'vacay aftereffect' where one would still feel a longing for a vacation mode even after being back from one.  What's worst is it rubs on everyone else.   I would show irritation at times but still would try to understand.  Anyway, I guess this is normal and I know they would snap out of it soon.

The first rains fell in the intense heat of summer.  While there was temporary relief, the ensuing heat after the rain was gone was just too much to bear.  PAGASA said that the heat would only be more intense in the coming days...... oooh la la....

A quick reality check on my new responsibility as one of the admins of our music site would reveal that it is hard to mix my current role in our music site and my professional and personal life without one suffering.  I am again faced with too many things on my plate.  I can hardly chew.   Luck would still be on our side as we managed to get two friends to share manning chores with us.  This would ease our burden a bit and give us a breather…. But it was not without a problem as skeds are still giving us a headache.  By now, we’re getting into the hang of it and are more comfortable... there were lesser squabbling.....

We're anticipating a long weekend ahead and it is good.......  I need a break......

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April 19 – 25, 2010: It's Getting Hot in Here

As we gained more experience on the site, we learned to relax and not overly stress ourselves.  But the demands of manning the site is too overwhelming at times.  Since I work too, I felt like I am spreading myself too thinly at times.  In one instance, I felt like being pulled in different directions as I tried to get a work assigned to me by my boss done while I was trying to work on old midterm exams to give them a fresh coat.  Midterm exams are scheduled this week.  Because of pressures at work, I had to call off a scheduled make-up class this week to finish a work that my boss has been hounding me about.  Since, we're both trying to start anew, I didn't want to be the cause of a reopening of the old 'wound'.  At the same time, we, founders of our music site, have to maintain our site as there have raised expectations among our friends.  There would be bickering at times.

The temperature is also soaring to the point when even tempers fly.  I find myself getting irritated too easily when things don't work out as expected.  The kids are complaining about the heat.  I could only sympathize.  Use of airconditioning equipment has to be controlled because a soaring electricity bill could aggravate the our problem.  Enrollment is coming up pretty soon.  The kids beat the heat by taking a dip in the village pool every so often.

We would learn about the extension of Kakay’s vacation as related to me by MIL.  She told one of our helpers that she was sick after having her tooth extracted.  It is no really big deal now.  By this time, our helpers have pretty much adjusted to the routine.  There were few irritants every now and then but things are well.

I managed to squeeze in a dinner date with my friend V........ in our favorite korean resto just before the weekend.  Over korean bbq and soju, we talked about the mundane and the silly.  By the end of dinner, we were just the right tipsy and light mood to get home.

In the weekend, I kept my new weekend routine..... man the site very early in the morning, chores until late afternoon while posting songs every now and then, hear mass, some more errands outside...... family bonding time, eating together, with some rest.  It was over in no time........

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Prayer for a Peaceful Election

Father, we ask for your guidance today in choosing our next leader. Grant us, Filipino voters, the enlightenment to vote for the men and women who will steer this country to progress that have long eluded us and at the same time transform us into a better community of people; just, socially responsible, morally upright; and committed to progress, through their own examples.  We seek discernment in choosing the people we will put in position of power.  Give us the wisdom to choose wisely with our hearts attuned to the needs of our countrymen, especially the poor, the meek, the oppressed, and the needy.

When everything has been said and done, we pray for a peaceful election, one that will show the rest of the world that while we desire change at this trying period, we can make our democracy work as we accept the will of the electorate and cooperate with the new leadership in making our country great once again.  Finally, we seek a peaceful transition of power from our old leaders to the new set of leaders.

All these we ask through  Christ our Lord, Amen.

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April 12 – 18, 2010: Coming to a Head

By this week, we were all too consumed by the demands of our music site. We realized that manning this site will take its toll on our life. There were some bickering among us, founders of the site. I think it is understandable that this will happen sooner or later. We were unprepared for the demand for a lot of our time and attention by the site. We did not exactly know each other. I almost gave up a couple of times. In the end, reasons prevailed as cooler heads intervened. The site holds too much promise and meaning to us to just let go. We want this, after all.

The other site, on the other hand, continued to maintain a protective stance for their site. We were trading barbs…… the other site ramming into the throats of their subscribers that they are the only intelligent choice as against our branding of our site as being the easy and convenient alternative. It turned ugly at certain points. We are supposed to be rationale people who would just like to have an alternative media and let’s admit it, a cheaper and accessible, form of entertainment. About this time, a fan of the other site went to our site to subscribe just to lambast us for wanting to gain credibility through the site we put up. Needless to say, a couple of friends interceded in our behalf, and I gave my own dose of food for thought to our intimidator. Immediately, after, she deleted all her comments.

Personally, I was struggling with staying sane with the demands of my work and household as well as our music site. To top it all, my old boss came back. I was wary because I have an old issue with her. I don’t know what to expect. Although during the Christmas season, I felt she was reaching out to me. She gave me a gift pack through one of her staff. I was taken aback as she has not done this for a long time. What is more surprising is that the pack contains Chinese ham which I told colleagues I'd rather have than the the ham loaf given by the Department to all staff. So someone must be delivering messages to my boss. Of course, common courtesy dictates that I had to express my gratitude. And it's Christmas, the season of love. I sent her a text message thanking her for the gift pack. She immediately replied. I sent her two more text messages of greetings during the long Christmas break. She replied back with greetings. After the Christmas break, there were few times we would bump into each other and we were not exactly mushy but were cordial to each other. Beyond that, I do not know what's in her mind.

My mind was practically on the music site we set up the entire week. It was like a tug of war on manning of the site. I found myself drawn to it almost the entire day that I ended up covering for my friends when they cannot man their slots.

This is the second weekend that I failed to do some of the house chores I was supposed to do. I managed to oversee the bathing of the dog. This is also the second weekend that sleep is lacking. The other site continues to be adversarial but we learned to take things with a grain of salt. It really doesn't matter what they think..... we are happy and free in our own site. However, I might be spreading myself too thinly......

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April 5 - 11, 2010: Breakaway

On the very first day of this week, my main helper, Kakay, went ahead with her planned vacation. This was expected but I am at never prepared for this scenario. I am just thankful that with recent problems with household helpers, I was able to find replacements just in the nick of time. I have been looking for a long time for a replacement for another helper who left our household months ago. It’s not easy but the turn of events made it unnecessary to get another helper for awhile

Since the new helpers were just recently employed, we are actually still into an adjustment period. I have to go to the office not knowing what to expect. Kakay was still there when I left as she was leaving sometime in the afternoon. When I arrived in the evening, that’s when my realization finally set in. We have enough help in the house as MIL decided that she and her assistant would be staying in the house while Kakay is away. MIL gave her blessing to tap her assistant for some housework. It was agreed that her assistant would be in charge of cleaning the rooms upstairs. There is Mandy, our new helper, who told me she knows how to cook and who I put in charge of the laundry as well as cleaning the ground floor. Cheryl, another recent hire, is the one in charge of rearing the birds and the dogs. MIL’s assistant would assist her on those days when she has to bathe the dogs and other pet stuffs. Mandy took care of the fishes in the pond and garden and in the aquariums spread all over the house. They would help each other out on some chores like clearing and cleaning the garden, the service areas, and the garage and other areas outside the house. Dish washing is also a shared task. All in all, there was a good plan in running the house even without my main helper except that there are some expectations not met. I still have to monitor things and put some controls to enable them to establish an acceptable routine.

Sometime in the week, there are some irritants that I had to address. Being new, Mandy, committed mistakes in cooking a number of our meals and some other chores that seemed to earn the goat of hubby. He would complain endlessly and I can sense that he was just nitpicking. I had to put my foot down one morning while we were having breakfast as I pointed out to him that we are left with no option. I asked if he wants Mandy to go but told him at the same time to find a replacement. After this, I no longer hear complaints from anybody. Well, I had to tell Mandy about the mistakes as it could turn out costly if it keeps on happening.

The most exciting occurrence this week was when my new friends and I bolted out of a music site for being too constricting. We used to hang around that site practically the whole day listening to music as we go about our business. It was a novelty in a sense that the founder of the site made the music that we love in our youth, available 24/7, like a radio station in another platform. The good thing about it is it is interactive. It was no surprise that the subscribers of the site are mostly baby boomers and some gen x because we share a love for the music of 70s and 80s with a sprinkling of 60s and 90s, generally a love for music. In time, we would develop friendships within the site such that we would converge at a certain time and have fun while sharing music. It got to the point that there was comforting ease that we were boisterous, cybercally. Perhaps, to the extent that some fans of the site and we learned later, some of the administrators were not very pleased with our presence.

This is what we do not understand. Why those fans or admininistrators minded that we were interacting in the site as we develop friendships. Isn’t this a natural consequence of the interaction encouraged by the site? Besides, there is always a choice – if you don’t want the interaction, you can ignore it, period. And go straight to the music. But not us…..we want more than music. At first, we tried to let things ease up a bit without necessarily putting a stop to the interaction. It is something that cannot be controlled among people who found common interests, situations, and peculiarities. I tried to avoid being in the slots of those admins who do not welcome these interactions. It came to a blow one morning when a new admin, who we would discover to be a brother of the founder, got our ire by his careless remarks towards the end of his slot. This led to comments posted by a friend and myself expressing exasperation over the uncharacteristic rudeness of the new admin in the last song he posted in his slot. After a few minutes the entire post was removed by the site administrator. I guess they saw apocalypse coming. We were gone about the same time and have not returned to the site since.  Surprisingly, the new admin no longer mans a slot in the site.

The following day, the more cooler heads of their admins appeared to be making appeals to get back to the site with an invitation to have more open interaction and fun. But we were too hurt and not biting the bait. But we needed an outlet for our songs and further the friendships started.

Initially, we were mimicking the admins of the site by posting songs in the walls of two friends and made sure that the admins of the site would see what we were doing…….. mean but we were mad. Sure enough, we got a reaction when one of the admins sent a sarcastic message to one of my friends . So we’re sure they were seeing what we were doing. We also can see what’s happening to the site. As soon as we left, it was like somebody died in there. They want it quiet. They surely got it.

With a yearning of a child who was robbed of his candy, we gave birth to our very own site, aptly called 24/7/11 ministop Fun Hot Muzic, on Thursday without any plans or program. When we first thought of the name and agreed on it, it is a spoof on the old site but essentially describes the environment we want in our site that there is a lot more to enjoying music than music itself. In no time, we were joined in by some other friends from the old site who might have missed our noise. They would shuttle back and forth the two sites. We found no problem with that but soon the other site’s admins appeared to have been affected as they branded their site as the Intelligent Choice…..whoa! My reaction was so intelligence is needed in appreciating music???!!! I don't have to overanalyze my music and simply clear my mind and closed my eyes to enjoy it.

Unprepared with the responsibility of managing a site, we were fumbling in the weekend on manning chores but managed just the same. It’s a good thing it was a long weekend as Friday was a holiday. Friends gave a lot of encouragement as more people joined the site, some are our friends who told us that they enjoy the music, some are unknown who might have stumbled on the site and liked it. We barely made it through the weekend with very little sleep.

Personally, I missed doing a number of chores due to this new development. But being a hardcore music lover, I needed an outlet and perhaps, it’s worth the sacrifice. There is still a lot to think about but for now, let me just enjoy sharing music……….

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What Colors are You Wearing?

My attention was drawn to the man sitting right in front of me as I was on my way to work one morning. He was wearing three baller bands of different colors – yellow and blue; orange; and green. If you are closely following news on the forthcoming national election in the Philippines, you’ll know that these are colors carried by the candidates of different political parties hoping to get our votes comes May 10, 2010. Baller balls are election paraphernalia being handed out in this year’s election.

The electoral race is coming to a homestretch with less than a week before our date with destiny when we elect our new sets of officials. The most important among our decision is the man or woman (I am not really entertaining this thought though) who will be our 15th President.

Since I reached the legal age to make most decisions for myself, I have participated in four elections. I was able to exercise my right to suffrage at an older age. This was because a Dictator overextended his tainted presidency for 21 long years, the longest any Philippine President held on to the position barring any chance that our outgoing President will be able to pull another one on us and extend her term. To date, she has been holding on to that position for 9 years and holds the unenviable reputation of being the second longest serving President. She came to power on the heels of the second People Power when civil society groups, business groups, professionals, workers, students and all disillusioned Filipinos converged to topple a bumbling President out of Malacanang for charges of corruption that he shamelessly flaunted and I believe because many felt he didn’t and still doesn’t have it in him to run the country as he transformed the august Office of the President as a haven for his midnight cabinet consisting of his cronies and drinking buddies. Being the legal successor to the abruptly cut Presidency, the Vice President was sworn into the Office of the President by the rule of succession before a crowd who did not necessarily subscribe to her but just wanted a proper functioning of the institutions ruined by the bumbling and shameless kleptocracy. Little did we know that she savored the idea of being the President so much as she dispensed the powers of the presidency for the remaining three years of the deposed president’s term and run for the Presidency on her own terms in the May 2004 election which what was widely believed to have been won by an actor, a buddy of the President she replaced who shortly passed away. I actually did not vote for her nor the actor. But like many, I did not relish the thought of another actor ruining whatever remains of proper governance. I turned my cheek the other way hoping that her presidency would be more palatable. Six years later and as we are once again faced with the task of choosing our next leader, that hope is now crushed under tons of rubbles. The feeling that accompanied my stance then does not jive with the feeling I have for her right now. I have put my thoughts on her governance in an earlier post.

My mind strained to describe the kind of government we have for the past 25 years since I helped put a number of them to the critical position. I am disappointed, disillusioned, and still yearning for a real taste of good government. I will have a date with destiny again in less than a week. Let’s see how I fared in the past four elections.

In my entire experience as a voter, there were only two times that I was sure and stood by my vote proudly. The first time came at a time that our country needed a renaissance of sorts after being governed by the same ruler who perpetuated himself to power eternally. Well, as history would show my vote and those of others who wanted a change were initially laid to waste because the Dictator resorted to massive cheating and manipulation of electoral institutions as he cannot accept the fact that he lost to a housewife. It took mass outpouring of emotions to compel people to stage the first ever peaceful revolution which finally forced the Dictator and his family to vacate the palace and fly to a tropical paradise. This is the first time that a woman would topple a man in the highest position in the land. This paved the way for the reluctant but duly-elected President to take her rightful place in the once impenetrable fortress. I did not expect much from her presidency as far as economic progress is concerned. With many losing hope in the government and at a time when people begun making mass exodus for offshore destinations, I simply needed decency and morals to be back in the government, values wanting in institutions corrupted by power as a result of the outlandish one-man rule for a very long time.

The second time I was certain and proud of my vote was immediately after this renaissance period. At this time, change was instigated and institutions were functioning normally, more or less. Because I am still fascinated and inspired by the miracle we pulled through at that time, I voted for the technocrat endorsed by the renaissance president. After all, he was a key personality in the first People Power . He gave up so much to force the Dictator out of Malacanang and our lives for good risking his position, relations, life and everything that he has for the government he served for a long time under the same Dictator. In other words, he turned his back on the Dictator and chose to be loyal to the country. He won my heart immediately. There were at least four key personalities that rallied the people in the first EDSA revolution. As mentioned earlier, he was one. The other three includes the lady who would be his predecessor and a high ranking religious prelate who made the call to the people and was instrumental in ensuring the safety of the would-be president. The last one is also a member of the cabinet of the Dictator who together with this technocrat was part of the military in the despised dispensation and was seen as a close confidante of the Dictator. I have never completed trusted this last key personality up to this day even if I am grateful that he was largely responsible for the coup d’ etat staged by the military signaling the withdrawal of support for the Dictator. However, I feel differently for this technocrat, the other key military official of the government of the Dictator. Although rumored to be a distant relative of the Dictator, he seemed to be left out from critical operations or decisions as the trust appeared to have been given to a ruthless military man who sold his soul to the Dictator. In this technocrat, I saw a man who was discontented with the system; was weighing his options; and made the clean break when the time called for it. It was a perfect moment when it happened. And if his becoming a president was his reward for his sacrifice, I’d say he deserved to be given that position. Overall, I’d like to describe his presidency as boasting of modest gains in economic development in terms of infrastructure development, investment generation, export promotion, and having the essential elements of governance. I’d say it’s a feat for him considering that many of us were doubtful about his capability to govern a country with only his strong military background as his credential. Even if he did not exactly pull us out of the rut, he restored investors’ confidence back in the country, made democracy function as he slowly rebuilt the nation; and probably stopped brain drain from completely devastating this forlorn nation.

Aside from these two Presidents, the rest of my choices leaves much to be desired. I have not always voted according to my conscience. I have voted a candidate whom I believe to be the lesser evil. I have been blinded by the promises of what I perceived to be a messianic candidate. I have voted a candidate whom I have long suspected of being a ‘trapo’ just to shave off the lead of a stupid candidate whom I hate to see sit as a president. I have voted blindly just so somebody I do not like will not win. I have voted people running for lower national and local positions whom I do not even know much about just to get it over with. I humbly submit that I am not proud of all the choices I made. I would like to be eaten by quicksand everytime I am reminded of two candidates I voted for the highest position out of desperation. I would be teased, sometimes scoffed, by friends about these choices and I could just wince in embarassment. Thank goodness, they didn’t win. This is the problem of being half-hearted about my choices….. there’s that nagging feeling of discomfort. As of the last election, it’s an even 50-50 for me in terms of satisfaction over my choices.

Exactly one week to election time, I am still scratching the surface to uncover more from the list of our hopefuls. I have no problem with the vice president because the person I am certainly voting for would have gotten my vote had he run for the highest position. But luck is not in his favor and he had to settle for the second best thing. As for my senatoriables , I believe that there is a long list of candidates to choose from. I have more problem in my choice for congressman and local officials because in my place the political scene is monopolized by a political dynasty. In fact, if the head of this dynasty wins the highest position, they would have it all. Let me tell you what my choices are or more precise my non-preference, as far as these positions are concerned.

For this election, I would not vote for the following:

1. Those whose only skill is to make people believe in the make believe (I wonder why they still rank high in the surveys. I have seen them in the Senate just have their attendance checked, sat quietly through proceedings (they have been christened and inducted as members of the Committee of Silence for this reason. I don’t think it’s in their personalities. It’s just that all throughout the sessions, they are clueless about what is going on) and disappear without a trace after showing off their handsome suits or crisp barongs while smiling and waving to the crowd from time to time that I felt like I was in an academy awards night during sessions that I attended.

2. Those who are subject of controversies because of their many ‘sins’ against the people at large; each other, and even their friends and family. (Some may be allegations on how they use their positions to enrich themselves and to enjoy all the perks of the position. Some accusations may be hard to prove as they have mastered the art of ‘sinning’ without getting caught or if caught, they know how to present an exterior that can let them get away while lying through their teeth. Just check their lifestyle and we could all just puke on his/her face….. ang kapal nyo!)

3. Those whose only preoccupation is to lambast and fail to see that he/she is the biggest joke of them all (They just love to grandstand and hear the sound of their own voice as they spew venom on the target of their wrath. However, examine the person and you’ll see what I am talking about….one more time with feeling……ang kapal niyo!!!).

4. Those wannabes who even without the basic qualifications to run for a public office think that entering politics is the natural course after excelling in a completely different field (Surely, you know who I am talking about….. rather than becoming a has been in their chosen field and stop having a gainful preoccupation, they use their little smarts to find an alternative career before reaching their twilight years. Inspired by the success of their predecessors, they think that they can do as well in politics. I’d like to tell them, “Mangilabot naman kayo!!!!”)

5. Those feeding us these stupid infomercials showing the candidates in a different light like we’re too stupid to see beyond the photoshopped pictures, the plastered smiles, and their concocted platform . Let’s recall those which if it does not ruin our day, at least give us something to laugh about….. There’s this one showing the anti-corruption platform of the candidate where the candidate himself is in a fistfight with cartoon crocodiles (how is that for effect…lol) . Another one uses the staff in an august chamber to extol the virtues of a relectionist and with him giving his fervent wish to the electorate in the end (Gusto ko happy ka……..lolz). A former presidential candidate who is now relegated to running for the second highest office made the fatal mistake of using a poor man’s contraption (the padyak) to paint him as a man who feels the misery of the poor with the famous tagline “Ramdam ko kayo” (rofl). You should fire your PR firms for doing you a disservice.

I’ll stop here even if there are a lot more of the kinds of candidates we have in this election who are not qualified because just with the above, there might be no more candidates to choose from among the leading ones. That is so very right. But since the bench is deeper among the senators, I’ll choose well and depart from the ‘trapos’ making the metro filthy with their campaign materials and who are giving me a bad case of hallucinations getting LSS from all those jingles, the most famous of which is the one asking if we slept in the middle of the road or swam in a sea of garbage (To you, I say, “Mag-solo ka!!!!”……that is if there is truth to the message of this famous jingle sang even by the youngest son of the famous sister of this guy’s leading contender). Since the only thing that these kinds of candidates can offer are empty promises, I think I will be idealistic this time on my senators.

I don’t think I have much choice among candidates running for local positions in my place because they are running practically unopposed. They have been beaten only once by a rival candidate and the repercussions were grave not only for the winner but for us, residents of our place. I live in a relatively clean and peaceful city so I might say that the dynasty must be working well in there. But I am really apprehensive about check and balance because there is no opposition to the system. I recall a time when an opponent of the ruling family won and it couldn’t function well because the losing candidate was sore about losing that he’d rather see the city get jammed in traffic and stink than help the winner govern efficiently. Since the losing candidate practically owns majority of the city, it was easy to make things difficult for the then new dispensation. Vindictiveness is the name of the game in political dynasties and warlordism. Hence, choices must be made under this condition….difficult but it’s going to be manageable.

The most difficult choice for me is the candidate who will eventually become our 15th President. There are 9 presidential candidates in the running. Many fora believe that we are again faced with the choice of the lesser evil rather than be allowed the satisfaction of voting for the candidate we believe deserves to become President. I do not want my vote to tilt the scale in favor of voting for exigency. I desire a working democracy that would also allow us to choose qualified and rightful leaders. IS THAT ASKING TOO MUCH?

A facebook wall post puts it succinctly…… We should not even be talking about M vs. N as it should have been G vs. G. I immediately liked this post. If I would choose a candidate in accordance with my conscience, one of these Gs would easily get my vote. There are some questions because of his association with a hated dispensation but he looks too good literally and figuratively that I am willing to overlook this disadvantage. However, there are other things to think about……

When my friends and I discuss our preferences, the usual reply is most of us really want the man wearing green to become president but…………. a plethora of rationalizations follow, among which are his association with a hated dispensation (perhaps his greatest undoing) and his sin of omission resulting in the Ampatuan massacre perpetuated by a clan wielding too much power and to whom the current president is beholden to because that clan gave enormous votes in that area. Nonetheless the guy is clean, capable, and has the makings of a president. But he is trailing in the surveys…… a dismal third in some surveys and fourth in some other polls. Among the middle class, I think he is a runaway winner. Of course, their campaigns would always belie the results of these surveys.

The rest of the candidates are not really threats. A former president making noise in the coming election is just all that…. all noise with nothing more. Except for his oft repeated wisecrack, there is nothing to him. I am glad that many of his old followers have learned their lessons and he is not getting the vote of his ‘beloved’ masses this time. There is a young idealistic man and his gregarious uncle who have good ideas about how to run this country but are clearly lacking in experience, charisma, or both. I would have wanted that young man to run for a lower position and I would readily give him my vote. As for his uncle, probably some other time, senator. It would be insane to put the lone female (is that right?)candidate to power given her tendencies and thank goodness she doesn’t matter in this election. The same goes to an over-ambitious environmentalist and this religious leader with a sure 5M votes from the power of networking among his subjects….. To these candidates, I want to ask the all too consuming question: JUST WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? The money you used in this election could have gone a long way in feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and getting basic services in a remote baranggay. For that alone, you will not get my vote now or farther into the future.

I encourage my friends and acquaintances as well as readers of this blog who care to make this election worthwhile to bother explaining the relevance of this election to people they talk to who would tell them that they are voting for a certain candidate because it is better that they are stupid since they wouldn’t know how to work around the system or a convicted plunderer because he won’t steal anymore as he already did it or who would not even want to vote because it is just a waste of time. Even if the choices are limited, we should all make a stand that would make a difference in our lives. WE NEED A GOOD LEADER TO LEAD US WITHOUT CONFUSING US WITH WHAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.

While I would love to put that green wristband at this point in time, I have to hold it one more time because I do not want a man giving out baller bands with a darker citrus color to become our top man.…….. Because I believe that the rich will not bother with crumbs when they can get the whole cake and eat it too. There are lots of questions as to his intentions. Those who do not trust him feel that he is dying to get into that position to preserve their wealth and at worst to further enrich himself and his business interests. Just like old times, greed becomes an all too powerful and consuming motivation. After all, one would not spend too much in the election without an assurance of a fair or maybe a fat ROI. Since he already used the power of his position to his advantage in a lesser position, what would deter him from using it another time in an all-too powerful position?

This is where the lesser of the evil, the man handing out the lighter citrus colored baller bands, have at least the benefit of my doubt. While his capability or the lack of it is his greatest shortcoming; his good name, untainted record, and the legacy of his parents put him in good stead. Lately, a lot of black propaganda have been hounding his campaign…. The most serious of which are his lack of accomplishment all the time that he is part of the government and lately his mental health. I am not certain about the accuracy of the report about his mental health but his lack of accomplishment is an obvious truth.

Right now, it’s beginning to look a lot like a toss-up between evil and the lesser evil once again. Given this scenario, my ultimate question is SHOULD I VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH MY CONSCIENCE OR SHOULD I THINK OF MY COUNTRY FIRST AND FOREMOST AND AVOID A REPEAT OF THE MISTAKES OF THE 2004 ELECTION? I have exactly 4 days, 7 hours, 34 minutes and 53 seconds to reveal my color and give my own answer to this question.

Related Posts:
President of the Philippines
Two Women and a Different Kind of Love for One Country
Why I Wouldn't Vote for Noynoy
Philippine Polls 2010

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